The final decision will depend on the recommendations of the planning inspection.
To get rid of dependence on Russian imports A coal mine could be opened in Britain for the first time in 30 years. This is the Woodhouse Colliery mine in Cumbria, according to The Telegraph.
According to the publication, the Minister of Housing Michael Gove supports such plans. The coal mine is expected to supply important materials to steel plants.
According to The Telegraph, Gove is going to approve the opening of the mine, as the cabinet supports the proposal to get rid of dependence on Russian imports.
The final decision will depend on the recommendations of the Planning Inspectorate.
It is noted that Woodhouse Colliery, Britain's first deep coal mine in 30 years, was approved by local councilors in October 2020, but later ministers began investigation following a protest by activists ahead of a climate change conference.
Last November, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at the Glasgow climate summit that he “does not support an increase in coal”, but did not say direct refusal.
The mine can produce coking coal, an important component of steel production that will not be burned in power plants.
It is noted that the UK imported about 40% of its coking coal from Russia before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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The issue of restricting energy exports from the Russian Federation has been actively discussed in the EU for several weeks, and unanimity in what Mikhail Honchar, president of the Center for Global Studies “Strategy XXI”, writes in the article “ Europe in Russia's energy trap: how to overcome dependence? ” banned from buying Russian oil, gas and coal, then Russia would lose 135 billion dollars, which is more than 1/4 of export earnings in 2021. According to experts, – 10% of GDP. This is the desired reduction in arms costs for the war against Ukraine, Gonchar said.
